TECNALIA and the University of Bordeaux strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the Euroregion

22 May 2019. The University of Bordeaux (UB) and the research and technological development centre TECNALIA have strengthened their relationship by signing a collaboration framework agreement with the ultimate goal of developing jointly technology solutions to solve market needs and increase the competitiveness of companies in the Nouvelle Aquitaine- Euskadi- Navarre Euroregion. The signature took place earlier today in the context of the Euskampus Board of Trustees, as both organisations are members.

This agreement is focused on the areas of Advanced & Additive Manufacturing, Neurotechnology, Advanced Materials and the Euskampus poles of knowledge (Renewable Marine Energies, New Materials, Aquatic and Land Ecosystems, Industry 4.0, Health Sciences & Technologies and Data Science & Digitalisation). Besides, and in order to transform knowledge into GDP, it foresees activities such as, business development, joint value proposition, joint research programs, programs and initiatives in the ventures and entrepreneurship fields, etc.

Due to this agreement, TECNALIA and the UB face 2019 full of projects and activities, with a special emphasis on industrial technology transfer projects, joint research and development of technology assets and the systematization and fostering of joint business development activities.

Two Advanced & Additive Manufacturing projects have been spotted already to fulfil this vision. The first concerns the recurrent industrial need for in-situ analysis of Additive Manufacturing processes and led to a UB measurement campaign on a TECNALIA set-up for a model case study. The second, relies on another industrial demand concerning the development of wear-resistant materials for extreme conditions. UB knowledge in the development of specific raw materials will be implemented into the industrial set-up, in addition to the know-how of TECNALIA concerning the required properties and set of parameters.

Two main factors have reinforced the collaboration between TECNALIA and the UB and led to this agreement. First, the longstanding relationship between the UB, which has flourished in the context of Euskampus International Campus of Excellence, alongside with the University of the Basque Country and DIPC. Secondly, the framework provided by the signature of a strategic collaboration framework agreement between the Regional Council of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and TECNALIA earlier this year.

The agreement with the region aims to strengthen innovation ecosystems, and to create favourable conditions for improving the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). As a result, TECNALIA will open a new office in Bordeaux in the coming months which will also accelerate the relationship with UB.

The president of the UB, Manuel Tunon de Lara, said: “This partnership builds on a long-term relationship between the University of Bordeaux and Tecnalia. It is an important step forward in terms of our commitment, in particular within the Euskampus consortium, which aims at being a resource for the economic and social development of the Euro-regional territory. The partnership fully illustrates the role of public universities in innovation ecosystems, and the benefits of synergies there exist between different organizations and agents at a European level”.

The CEO of TECNALIA, Iñaki San Sebastián, added that “We want to move from our current relationship of being Partners in collaborative R&D&I projects to a Strategic Alliance with the common objective of accelerating the transformation of knowledge into GDP through enlarged R&D&I potential and enhanced professional activities and services we provide to companies. We also want to exploit complementarity in the TRLs in which each of us works and the opportunity in the “cross-use” of equipment, laboratories and facilities, at the service of industrial competitiveness both in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and the Basque Country.” 

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF BORDEAUX

Welcoming more than 56,000 students and employing over 6,000 staff, the University of Bordeaux is currently one of the largest French universities. Multidisciplinary in its core and its outlook, it develops a wide range of courses, from technical degrees to PhDs, in a constant attempt to ready today’s students to become tomorrow’s citizens, helping them build and achieve their personal and professional goals whilst working on major current challenges. This constant intertwining of outlooks, disciplines and approaches, and this responsibility towards society, is clearly reflected in the University of Bordeaux’s ambitious, demanding research policy. Labelled by the French Governement “Initiative d’Excellence”, it is positioned among the leading European research universities. www.u-bordeaux.com

ABOUT TECNALIA

TECNALIA is a leading Research and Technological Development Centre in Europe, with 1,400 experts representing 30 different nationalities, focusing on transforming technology into GDP to improve people's quality of life, by creating business opportunities for companies. ww.tecnalia.com